



®l}^ SItbrarg 

(Hairt Armnrg, Snatrnt 



ICtbrarg of tl|r Cttommatib^rg 

^tatf of ilafiaarl|U0ftt0 

Htlttarg ®rbrr of tl|^ ffingal fogtoit 

1914 



.a. 



^\t 




i-U '-■ '>^>« 



n 



®I|? ICtbrarg 



T 



^1 



1 



HE LIBRARY of the Commandery came into being 
as the outcome of two distinct purposes : 

First — To carry out in the most effective manner the 
primary object of the Order, as expressed in its Con- 
stitution, of cherishing the memories and associations 
of the war waged in defence of the unity and indivisibility of 
the Republic and transmitting those memories to future gen- 
erations. 

Second — To promote the honest and equitable use of funds 
annually collected from all Companions of the Commandery by 
so-called dues. 

From the date of the organization of the Commandery for 
almost fifteen years the provisions of the Constitution relative to 
social intercourse, alone, received attention and called for the 
appropriation of all moneys, without provision for a future and 
regardless of the source of our income. 

The average age of our membership was scarcely over forty 
— the affiliation resulting from common service in the field was 
still dominant — the individual connections and family associations 
in the smaller body resulted in personal friendships and the social 
side of the organization appealed to those who felt that they 
had given their part to the making of a page of history and that 
its perpetuation might well be left to others. 

As time went on and the increase in numbers brought 
enlargement of methods of entertainment and an additional ex- 
pense, a new problem was presented and the Board of Officers 
could not fail to take account, not only of the income receipts, 
but also of the sources from which that income was derived, and 



perhaps for the first time it became evident that a large number of 
contributors to the funds derived no benefit beyond the mere fact 
of membership and the right to wear the insignia of the Order, 
while the material advantages, in addition to such membership and 
right, were monopolized by a comparatively small number who 
could eat, drink and be merry at the general expense. 

Hie records show that from a total membership in the 
following years the numbers present at the meetings and monthly 
dinners were : 



Membership 
May I 

1900, 924 

1901, 922 

1902, 928 

1903, 929 

1904, 938 

1905, 919 

1906, 933 
T907, 917 

1908, 886 

1909, 866 

1 9 10, 843 

1911, 830 

1912, 814 

1913, 790 

1 9 14, 749 

Average Membership — 879 
Average Attendance — 298. 

Admitted, of course, that the right existed in every Compan- 
ion to be present at all entertainments and enjoy all the benefits 
ot membership, yet an awakened conscience in the Board resulted 
in the conviction that the moneys received from those Companions 
who were non-residents or, while resident members and paying 
full dues, were, by reason of distance, or for any reason whatso- 
ever, debarred from being present at meetings, should in some 



Average 
Attendance 

357 
359 
380 

353 

363 

3^5 
300 

283 

262 

270 
269 
261 
257 
206 
225 




4 



degree be devoted, as a matter of fair play, to some other purpose 
suggested by the Constitution than social and convivial entertain- 
ment. 

This conviction once realized, it was but a short step for the 
Board to determine that a just proportion of such dues should be 
used for the perpetuation of history of the Rebellion, through the 
formation of a library and the collection of such relics as would 
create a museum of the arms, ammunition, clothing and equip- 
ment of that period. 

The treasury of the Commandery was not in condition to 
take even the first step, and certain Companions who recognized 
the justice and expediency of the movement made contributions 
which became the beginning of our present library, and thereafter 
at irregular intervals transfers of moneys were made by vote of the 
Board of Officers or the Commandery for its maintenance and in- 
crease from the General Fund. 

The library at the present time contains about six thousand 
volumes, many of which were obtained at nominal prices in the 
earlier years, while a recent expert appraisal of the books alone 
shows a sound value of more than Fifteen Thousand Dollars. 

As a working library it has peculiar attractions through its 
almost complete collection of Regimental Histories, while it is 
rich in Lincolnia, specially strong in Confederate publications, and 
in its many volumes covers the whole ground of Slavery, the 
histories of campaigns, the reconstruction period and the general 
literature of the Rebellion. 

The student of military history cannot fail to recognize the 
convenience of the methods of arrangement and the availability of 
the volumes for reference or consecutive work. 

In addition to the books shown by the card catalogues, there 
has been acquired an almost unique collection of the shot and shell 
in use on the various battlefields and in naval actions together with 
a wealth of souvenirs and mementoes of the War. Among these 
might be mentioned the hat which General Sherman wore from 
Atlanta to the Sea; his uniform, coat and hat, and his Head- 
quarters Colors when in command of the Army of the United 
States. 



A Barbara Fritchie Flag, presented by her to General Reno 
at Fredericktown, on the day before his death at the battle of 
South Mountain. 

The Flag of the U. S. S. '' Minnesota," showing the ragged 
hole made by the first shot from the " Merrimac." 

The Items of this character contained in the catalogue are 
more than i,ooo in number. 

The pictorial side of campaigns — the scenes of camps and 
fields or fortifications, and ships of the navy together with the 
portraiture of officers and men in service — is represented by 17^ 
volumes containing over 36,000 prints and portraits, and is un- 
equaled as a collection. 

The autograph letters and signatures are a peculiarly valuable 
and interesting asset, and the wealth of manuscripts and items in- 
dexed as Documents, covering almost every phase of military ser- 
vice in the field, of the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army, form 
a collection the value of which cannot be estimated by any money 
appraisal. 

The Corps of Cadets and the Veteran Association have 
granted us the use of our pleasing Library Rooms, and it is this 
Library with its valuable collections of historic interest which 
appeals to the Commandery for support and maintenance, 
legitimate increase and endowment. 

For the Library Committee, 

ARNOLD A. RAND, 

Chairman. 



®1|0 2Ithrarg (HammxtUs 



Brevet Major William P. Shreve 
Major Edward T. Bouve 
Captain Charles W. C. Rhoades 
Mr. Frank E. Peabody 
Mr. R. Henry W. Dwight 
Mr. William F. E. Roelofson 
Colonel Arnold A. Rand, Chairman 



iHorm of Ipqupst 



The Commandery is incorporated under the laws of Massa- 
chusetts and the following may be used as a form of bequest: 

/ give and bequeath to the Commandery of the State 
of Massachusetts Military Order of the Loyal Legion of 
the United States, the sum of 



General | 
for the use of its Library I Fund. 
Permanent J 



Dollars 




THE BARBARA FRITCHIE FLAG 




THE FLAG OF THE U. S. S. MINNESOTA 



THE ROCKWELL S CHURCHILL PRESS 
BOSTON 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinii 

012 196 395 4 s 



